Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that it is good to see the Government using a common sense approach for once and renewing the drivers licences of the over-70s while COVID levels are so high.

Teachta Crowe said:

“Until the Minister’s announcement that all licences would be automatically renewed earlier this week, all drivers over 70 years old were forced to seek medical certificates every year from their doctor who all too often now are only seeing emergency non-COVID cases.

“It is good to see common sense approach prevailing for once in a Government decision. Sending people to already overflowing doctor’s surgeries in the middle of a pandemic should not be a priority right now. It placed people at risk of transmission and takes up valuable time that doctors could be using to see patients at this crisis point in our health service.

“I want to welcome the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan’s response to my call on this important issue. A drivers licence is an important piece of documentation and allows many over-70s to lead an independent lifestyle.”